06-24-2016, 04:08 PM
"What is your assessment of her intent?"
Nikolai's grim question was met with the pressed lips of an advisor standing nearby. The light from the room beyond cast a sickly, pale reflection of both their faces in the two way mirror. The lighting down here was always harsh, as if it had never been updated from the fluorescent bulbs used in the days of the Cold War.
"She seems different but I can't tell how exactly. No. I do not think her intent to be here today is to enact violence. She seems wary. Like a cat sniffing at an escape route." The advisor tucked his glasses into the pocket of his lab coat, squinting over at Nikolai to gauge the Ascendancy's reaction.
Nik felt the old doctor's gaze on the side of his neck, but rather than look over, he waved a hand in dismissal.
"Thank you for the insight."
With that said, Nikolai raised his own defenses anyway by seizing the source of his power and entered the room beyond.
He was dressed as he had been during the press conference, including the sharp points of the Arcus Band along his temples, although, in person, there were more lines etching the corners of his eyes than make up and live video editing had covered on air. He was confident the announcement was the correct course of action, but more than one advisor had posited extreme caution. They were already seeing the repercussions.
"Aria. I must say I am not surprised to see you. How are the Atharim taking the news? I imagine the current Regus is furious. But is he afraid?"
He should be. They pushed him enough times and Nikolai had turned on them.
Nikolai's grim question was met with the pressed lips of an advisor standing nearby. The light from the room beyond cast a sickly, pale reflection of both their faces in the two way mirror. The lighting down here was always harsh, as if it had never been updated from the fluorescent bulbs used in the days of the Cold War.
"She seems different but I can't tell how exactly. No. I do not think her intent to be here today is to enact violence. She seems wary. Like a cat sniffing at an escape route." The advisor tucked his glasses into the pocket of his lab coat, squinting over at Nikolai to gauge the Ascendancy's reaction.
Nik felt the old doctor's gaze on the side of his neck, but rather than look over, he waved a hand in dismissal.
"Thank you for the insight."
With that said, Nikolai raised his own defenses anyway by seizing the source of his power and entered the room beyond.
He was dressed as he had been during the press conference, including the sharp points of the Arcus Band along his temples, although, in person, there were more lines etching the corners of his eyes than make up and live video editing had covered on air. He was confident the announcement was the correct course of action, but more than one advisor had posited extreme caution. They were already seeing the repercussions.
"Aria. I must say I am not surprised to see you. How are the Atharim taking the news? I imagine the current Regus is furious. But is he afraid?"
He should be. They pushed him enough times and Nikolai had turned on them.